Reversible fulcrum



Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,705. I, w. c. HEnGcocK. h

REVERSIBLE FULCRUM.

FILED SEPT' l2, 192|- if! l? l i 1 ,f uw l 27 Patented Dec. 26, i922.

naires WW lilla,

'er "i wir@ fr :m2 tinta .bibi i anni* i WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK, OF CH'GGQ, ILLINGS, ASSGNQR T0 fklilE13/)ZGAN` STEEL FOUNDRIES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOS, A` CORPOEATEON OF NEW JERSEY.

REVERSIBLE FULCRUM.

Application iled September 12,1921. Serial No. 499,936.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that l, WILL-mii- C. Hanooooir, acitizen of the United States, residing` at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and. State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a VReversible Fulcrum, of whichthe following a specification.

This invention relates to brake beams and more particularly to a reversible fulcrum combination. 4

@ne object of the invention is to provide a simple and-eiiicient reversible fulcr m for brake beams which is adapted to meet the various requirements of a fulcrum which may be used righthand and left-hand and at the same time prevent the existence of lost motion and properly perform its function as a strut of the brake beam truss.

Another object is to provide a reversible brake beam tension and compression mem-y bers shown in section; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that l have disclosed my invention in connection with a truss type of brake beam including a compression member 10, a tension member 11, and a fulcrum 12 extending between the tension and compression members. The main body portion `13 of the fulcrum includes two spaced arms 14 between which a brake lever, not shown, may be pivotally mounted. The fulcrum body here illustrated is an integrally formed and closed` rectangular body the rear end wall of which is provided with an opening 15, the purpose of which will appear later. A clamping member 16 is secured to theweb of the compression member by any suitable means, such as rivets 18. The clamping member has its intermediate portion 19 ofi'- set with` respect to the web 17 ofthe compression member and the extent of the offsetvis less than the'width of the head 2O of a rivet-like member, the 'intermediate portion 21 of which extends loosely through Ian opening 22 in the clamping member 16. EX- tending from 'the intermediate portion 21l of the headed member 2O is a reduced portion 23 which extends through the opening l5 in the fulcrum body 13 and'is riveted to said fulcrum body, a rivet head 24 being formed.

It will be noted that the intermediate portion 2l of the rivet-like member extends loosely through the openinor 22 in the clamping member 1b" to increase the freedom of movement of the fulcrum body 13 as it is oscillated from one position to another. This reversible'm'ovement, however, is resisted somewhat in view of the fact that the head 2O is clamped between the web 17 of the compression member and the clamping member-16 which prevents any lost motion longitudinally of the fulcrum body, thereby permitting the latter to act as a perfect strut in the brake beam truss. noted also that one end of the intermediate portion 21 of the rivet-like member engages the rear end wall of the fulerum body and holds it spaced from the intermediate portion 19 of the clamping member 16.

The rear portion of the fulcrum body 13 is provided with angular faces 29 which are adapted to engage the upper and loweii flanges 25 and 26 ofthe compression mem ber for limiting the reversible movements of the fulcrum body. This connection between the fulcrum body and the compression member provides a practical arrangement which is adapted to meet the requirements` for successful commercial use.

Pivotally connected to the front end of the fulcrum body by a rivet 27 is a tension rod saddle 2S which receives the tension rod 11. t

It is myintention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim: n

1. In a brake beam, the combination of a lt will be `rhaving another head which tween said clamping member and comprescompression member, n reversible ulerum body having an opening therein, a clamping member having an opening and being secured to said compression member, and a heeded member haif'ing; a portion extending-- throue'h the openingl in said vfulorum body and riveted thereto and lia-ying another portion extending loosely through thelopening,` in said clamping member to facilitate easy rotation of the fulcr'um' body, the kheaded portion of said headed member being clamped between said Clamping member and nnwession member to preyentylost motion longitudinally ot the rulerinn.

f2. in a brake beam, the Combination of a compression niember, va reversible ioleium body, a clan'ipingf member ha: anvopening and being' eeeured to said compression member, and a member headed at one end yfor securingV it to said tilleriim body, said headed member having another portion e2;- tending loosely chronC the opening` in said clamping memberto i'aoilitate easy rotation of the fulorum body, Said headed member clamped beisy sion member to prevent lost motion longitudinally of the ulcrum body.

3, In a brake beam, the combination of a compression member, a reversible fulerum body, a clamping` member having an opening and being secured tosaid Compression member, and e member headed at both ends, one headed end being' secured to said ful* ernm body, an intermediate portion extending,` loosely throughl the opening insaid clamping member to facilitate easy rotation of the ulcrum body and engaging said fulcruin bod;v to space it from the clamping member, the other headed end being clamped between said clamping member and compression member to prevent lost motion longitudinally or they nlcrum body.

e. ln a brake beam. the combination ot' tension and compression members, a fulorion body, a clamping member secured to one et said members, and a rivet-like member headed at both ends whereby one end secured to said iulorum body andthe other clamped between said clamping member `and one oi Said other members for preventing lost motion longitudinally of the fulorom7 said rivet-lille member also having a portion extending` looselythrough an opening in arid clamping *member to facilitate rotation the fiilernm body.

Signed at Chicago, lllinois, this 3rd day ot September, 1921.

TvVlLLlAM C. HEDGCOCK. 

